“Now we have the Coven Council closing in. Their ultimate goal…” Cedric nodded towards my desk as I slowly picked up the folder labeled Coven Council. When I began to look through the papers, I paused to read a report on one of their meetings. “They want another funeral massacre, part two. The Southern Five have control above ground but not enough mythics live here in the states…Now that this fucking moon Goddess, whatever the hell she is, broke what should have been magic old as time, there is no limit to what can be done. They want to merge the Underground above and expand their reach. They are going to do it when everyone is concentrated in one spot.”
“The games,” I said.
Reading the documented notes carefully, I saw where it was mentioned just how many people planned on attending, who was sitting where, and how the seating mattered as it relates to witches.
“This isn’t about control of the Underground. This isn’t a political coup,” Cedric went on. “They want to bring everything to ground level and expand their territories. Which is WHY they’re trying to find that girl. Which is why Xavier Martin missing isn’t even a factor. They want the First Family gone and out of the way, so they don’t interfere. You more than anybody know what happens when these folks see people like us, our true selves. We’re going to be dealing with the government here with people wanting to keep us as lab rats and pets.”
“There are families that haven’t left the Underground in years,” I said.
“Exactly. This is home for a lot of people…”
I looked at the seats with some being marked with an X while others were circled.
“Guess who was one of the mythics that came up with the idea of the games? The elements?” Cedric asked as he opened his folder. “Amelia Lovelace of the Southern Five. She’s on the committee and the dean for Belmont University. The main source of moving from one element, one game to another is…”
“Doors,” I answered. Cedric nodded.
“Bingo.”
“This campaign against predators, and the First Family is just a distraction so they can do as they please in peace.”
Pushing my glasses up, I pulled out my phone.
“Keep ignoring me brother…You know there isn’t much we can do but to deal with the aftermath and prepare for a body pile up, along with the sheer panic of a human seeing a fae for the first time.”
“So then all we can do is warn everyone,” I muttered as I began to text.
“What? Who are you texting?”
Sending the text to my baby. Souxie will be fine and will adjust. She’ll be upset but not enough to leave me. I wouldn’t allow it. I scrolled through my list of contacts before finding the number and making the call until she answered.
“This is Himora Clarke speaking.”
Bellamy Holmes
This is going to be a shit show.
I flicked my cigarette to the ground, shoved my hands in my pants pockets, and stepped on the bud to mush into the ground. Looking up at the swollen moon hovering over the dark forest, this felt like something out of a fairytale. This is just the part where we’re getting the villain’s lore and the backstory on why he became the evil character. The misty fog settled between the tall trees, and there was the stench of piss and blood everywhere. The quiet single back road that curved and swerved was lined with cars and trucks as more people began showing up.
“Rodney!? Hurry up and grab the meat!” A woman shouted with a heavy southern accent. I leaned against my car and watched as a mother carried grocery bags while two little boys ran circles around her. The grown men were still digging in the back of their SUV grabbing more bags while I watched others from across the way bring lawn chairs and make their way towards the foggy covered woods.
“Mello?!” Another shouted as he stepped onto the grass with tight ripped jeans that showed his twig for legs, matted afro and a two small black t-shirt with clunky Nike sneakers. “Mello?! Fuck going onnn twin?! Haaaaaaaaaaannnn!?”
He showed off his grill with his pointer finger pulling at the side of his mouth while his eyes flickered a bright golden hazewhen he looked my way.
“Ghetto,” I muttered Lighting another cigarette, I stared out with smug expression. Watching the rest of the Jimmy Crack Corn family when walk one walked close to me, eyes never leaving mine before unzipping his pants to let out a stream of urine. I stared at him as he continued to spray the grass with his scent before dramatically zipping his jeans back up. He leaned to the side to let out a glob of spit and turned to walk off.
“Ohhh noo,” I let out with a wave of my hand before muttering to myself. “You sure showed me…. fucking mutt.”
“Anything to get a reaction out of us…”
I felt the familiar chill when the voice came up behind me. Smirking, I let myself visibly relax with my shoulders slumping further into my stance.I blew out a cloud of smoke to the side before greeting my cousin.
“Draco…It’s been too long.” Draco Holmes walked around with his hair hanging freely in natural curls against the side of his face. The white strip of hair always gave him the look of maturity until the fool opened his mouth. He wore all black, same as I but what caught me off guard was the wolf he attached himself to. Namir’s sister came walking up slowly with a swollen stomach wearing a bright red maternity top that allowed for her brown belly to poke through the split fabric. Her short curly hair was tapered, smile always bright but her eyes were the same as the rest of them. Sharp, keen, and forever a threat that sits on the back of my mind.
“How have you been cousin?” Draco asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. His woman gently touched his shoulder before heading on with the rest as a few kids ran up to her to touch her stomach. Draco looked a little more mature thanbefore. The faded beard, the weight filling his face, rounding his jawline, and content in his eyes. He always looked comfortable with life when it came to her. I didn’t understand it before, but ever since I met Birdie, it makes sense to me now.
“Where have you been hiding this entire time while your dear cousin has been missing, and accused of kidnapping?” I asked. Taking another pull on my cigarette, I blew the smoke to the side but kept my eyes on him.
